Globesweeper
- February 12, 2019
- Incandescent Games
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"Globesweeper is a casual, single-player game that puts a twist on the classic Minesweeper. With exceptional visuals and music, players can choose from various game modes, globe sizes, and difficulties. The goal is to reveal tiles without hitting a mine, using numbers to deduce the safe tiles, available in both traditional and guaranteed solvable mode. Unlock 14 unique themes by gaining achievements and conquer colossal globes to prove your skills."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Globesweeper offers a guaranteed solvable mode, eliminating the frustration of guesswork that plagued the original Minesweeper.
- The game features a variety of tile shapes (squares, hexagons, triangles) and customizable settings, providing a fresh and engaging twist on the classic formula.
- The 3D graphics and relaxing music enhance the overall experience, making it a fun and addictive game for both new players and Minesweeper veterans.
- Some players report that the game still requires guesswork in certain situations, particularly on larger maps, which can lead to frustration.
- The user interface and sound design have been criticized for being clunky and lacking customization options, detracting from the overall experience.
- As a mobile app port, some feel that it doesn't meet the expectations of PC gamers in terms of graphics and performance, leading to a perception of it being a cash grab.
- music42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and meditative qualities, enhancing the gameplay experience with soothing sounds and soft chimes that respond to player actions. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive during long sessions, it is still considered a strong aspect of the game, with options to adjust volume and even mute it if desired. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, making it a pleasant version of the classic minesweeper experience.
“The music is meditative and relaxing, and each time you flag or uncover a tile, a soft chime plays in the current scale of the music, which is a nice touch.”
“The music is helpfully soothing -- and you're going to need some soothing while you try to math your way through these puzzles.”
“With the different shaped board, different sized maps and the relaxing music, this is a great version of Minesweeper and everything is done correctly!”
“The music might be lacking something in long sessions, but that's really the only downside I can think of.”
“When I streamed this game, I had to both turn down the sound effects and music in-game and in OBS by almost 10 decibels, which is pretty ridiculous.”
“Oh and the music, I've never muted a track sooner; as much as I would have liked to have turned it down to about 5% so there's at least some background noise, despite the one track being once again ascending chords.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the mobile app are characterized by a lazy minimalist style with low-polygon, untextured assets that evoke a retro aesthetic reminiscent of early 1990s games, which some players find unappealing. However, others appreciate the brutal aesthetic and the tasteful design of the planetary skins, noting that the graphics are serviceable and do not strain lower-end devices. Overall, while opinions are mixed, the graphics are generally considered adequate for the gameplay experience.
“This thing is gorgeous in its brutal aesthetic.”
“The aesthetics of graphics are designed with good taste; it sounds pretty fine and the game's interface is friendly as well as intuitive.”
“Real nice world graphics also.”
“The lack of textures is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to disguise it under the name of 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
“The graphics wouldn't strain a cheap Android tablet.”
“I recommend this one, two thumbs up, controls are great, (even double click works!) the sound effects are soothing and the graphics plain but serviceable.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Gameplay is primarily a straightforward deduction experience, reminiscent of classic minesweeper mechanics, with some customization options for board size and mine amounts. While the 3D format adds a unique twist, the overall gameplay is described as "vanilla" and lacks significant innovation beyond aesthetic variations. Players appreciate the smooth mechanics and additional features like achievements and leaderboards, but some find more enjoyment in the developer's sequel, which offers more complex puzzles.
“The mechanics are simple and effective, there are a few themes to unlock, and each level can be customized with mine amounts, board size, and layout.”
“That's really it, but the twists that come from 3D gameplay are oddly addictive.”
“Great bargain at this price with smooth gameplay, achievements, and leaderboards.”
“Gameplay is exactly the same act of deduction until you have to guess a 50/50 chance on a poorly hinted tile and then you get to restart.”
“Other than that, gameplay is pretty vanilla.”
“The game comes with hex and triangle variations, but that's the extent of its mechanical innovation.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game offers a variety of achievements, many of them are considered grindy, particularly those requiring extensive gameplay, such as winning 1000 games. Some users appreciate the challenge this presents, while others find it tedious and not worth the effort, especially in the context of a game that is otherwise seen as a good alternative to classic minesweeper. Overall, the grinding aspect is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the challenge and others feeling it detracts from the experience.
“Several themes can be unlocked through achievements, some of which are timed challenges, others are really grindy, so I didn't bother with them.”
“Spinning the globe constantly is tedious, and once you get past that, there's no redeeming or deep qualities that make it as interesting as it looks.”
“Perfectionist's note: one achievement is grindy (winning 1000 games) and one is tough (beating a colossal triangle globe).”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Globesweeper is criticized for its monetization strategy, being perceived as a cash grab that has transitioned poorly from a free mobile app to a Steam release, resulting in excessive ads and bloat. While the game offers an interesting twist on the classic Minesweeper, the intrusive monetization detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“Globesweeper is a free mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. The game is a twist on Minesweeper, except instead of a 2D rectangular minefield, you're presented with a sphere.”
“However, when I recently tried to get back into it on Win10, I was deeply disappointed by how bloated and riddled with ads it has become.”
“Globesweeper is a free mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. The game is a twist on Minesweeper, except instead of a 2D rectangular minefield, you're presented with a sphere.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express strong emotional reactions to the game, with some reporting tears due to its intense and challenging nature, particularly in the "triangle mode" where complex interactions between elements evoke frustration and deep engagement.
“I cried.”
“I cried.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, "globesweeper" offers a high level of replayability, particularly due to its random level generation and competitive leaderboards, making it a worthwhile purchase for players seeking ongoing challenges. While it may not effectively teach deeper techniques compared to other hex-style puzzle games, its consistent replay experience and low price enhance its appeal.
“Infinite replayability, definitely worth the (low) price tag.”
“It really feels like the levels in globesweeper have the most consistent replayability experience compared to the others.”
“The leaderboards in the game give a lot of replay value for the smaller maps, which is where the random generation of the globes shine.”
“I probably wouldn't buy this as my first hex-style puzzle product. I'm not sure if it really 'communicates' the deeper techniques in the way that the structured levels for Hexcells and the other games do, but it really feels like the levels in Globesweeper have the most consistent replayability experience compared to the others.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on native Linux systems, where users report smooth performance without issues.
“Runs great on Linux (native, even).”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing and creative take on the classic minesweeper format, incorporating unique shapes like triangles and hexagons, which adds an entertaining twist to the gameplay.
“Pretty funny and interesting way to play Minesweeper, including the triangle and hexagon form.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is characterized as a unique blend of influences from renowned creators Kojima and Miyazaki, featuring engaging storytelling complemented by an eclectic soundtrack.
“This is the unwanted child of Kojima and Miyazaki, spiced up with great storytelling and funky music.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as very relaxing, creating a soothing environment for players.
“The atmosphere is very relaxing.”
